Welcome To Long Beach Island, NJ Also Known as LBI
18 Miles of Smiles
Viking Village On Long Beach Island, NJ
Viking Village is a recipient of the 2005 Governors Award for Excellence in Tourism for dock tours, craft and antique shows and other events we host.
Leaders In The Industry
"At Viking Village, we take pride in being leaders in a program emphasizing responsibly caught fish and scallops, ensuring minimal impact on the environment and fish habitat. We continue to work closely with the National Marine Fisheries Service and play a major role in the management and cooperative research process." Ernie Panacek, General Manager
Directions To Viking Village:
When you travel on Route 72 East and come across the Causeway onto Long Beach Island you are in Ship Bottom, NJ. Turn left on Long Beach Boulevard and you will go thru Ship Bottom to Surf City, North Beach, Harvey Cedars, Loveladies and Barnegat Light at the north end of LBI.
When you turn left on Long Beach Boulevard you will go approximately 8 miles. Make a left onto 19th Street and then cross Bayview Avenue.
Viking Village is located at 19th Street and Bayview Ave. in Barnegat Light.
12 Great LBI Shops At Viking Village
* A La Cart * Cassidy's Fish Market * Frank's Produce * Iron Butterfly * Off The Hook * Seaman's Landing
* Sugar Shack * The Seawife * Viking Outfitters * Village Brew * Wink * Wooden You Luv It
Shops At Viking Village In Barnegat Light, NJ
Historic Viking Village
A visit to Barnegat Light's historical Viking Village will take you back in time to the early days of a quaint fishing village. For your pleasure the tiny fishing shacks have been turned into shops with something special for everyone: clothing for the rugged Viking in your family and Helga too; antiques and architectural finds; and toys and candy.
Newly expanded is Wink which carries junior urban casual clothing, jewelry, and beach accessories. There is Off The Hook, a fresh prepared seafood takeout shop that now features a new outdoor seating area and catering. Ready for its third summer season is Village Brew, offering gourmet coffee, espresso bar, pastries, fruit smoothies, and Edy's ice cream.
Visit the shops, watch scallop boats or longliners sail in the harbor and take home some fresh catch of the sea from the fish market. Come take a walk through history and even take a tour of the commercial docks.
The dock tours run from July to September. Contact the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce at 609-494-7211.
History Of Viking Village
Viking Village was founded in the 1920's by first generation Norwegian fishermen and was at that time primarily a lobster fishing co-op known as the Independent Fish Company. After several years when the lobsters began to get scarce John and Ole Larson found they could modify the gear to catch sea bass and that fishery flourished well into the 50's. Over the years as the dock grew, it evolved into scallop, gillnet and longline fishing that characterizes our operation today.
In 1975 the facility, by then named Viking Village, was purchased by Capt. John Larson Jr. and Capt. Lou Puskas. The two friends had pioneered tilefishing in the Mid-Atlantic and were operating out of Meyers Dock at 6th Street in Barnegat Light. Forced to leave 6th St. when the party boat season opened for the summer, they seized the opportunity to buy Viking Village when it arose.
Shortly after incurring the substantial debt necessary to buy the dock, Capt. Lou and Capt. John were heading out in their boats into deteriorating weather for a tilefish trip and as the weather worsened Lou suggested that the two boats should probably turn back....whereupon John replied, you know what Lou, we have a payment to make.... we can't afford to turn back !
Thank You For The Photos and Info about Viking Village courtesy of:
